Media Girl - Culturehttp://mediagirl.org/taxonomy/term/518/0
enDonut jihad!http://mediagirl.org/media-girl/donut-jihad
<p>Another reason why the right cannot be trusted: <a href="http://www.boston.com/ae/celebrity/articles/2008/05/27/dunkin_donuts_yanks_rachael_ray_ad/">They have lost touch with reality</a>.</p>
<blockquote><div>Does Dunkin’ Donuts really think its customers could mistake Rachael Ray for a terrorist sympathizer? The Canton-based company has abruptly canceled an ad in which the domestic diva wears a scarf that looks like a keffiyeh, a traditional headdress worn by Arab men.
<p>Some observers, including ultra-conservative Fox News commentator Michelle Malkin, were so incensed by the ad that there was even talk of a Dunkin’ Donuts boycott.</p>
<p>‘‘The keffiyeh, for the clueless, is the traditional scarf of Arab men that has come to symbolize murderous Palestinian jihad,’’ Malkin yowls in her syndicated column.</p></div>
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<p><strong>Update:</strong> Check out this <a href="http://www.blogher.com/dunkin-donuts-hates-freedom">BlogHer take on this</a>.</p>
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<!-- google_ad_section_end --><p><a href="http://mediagirl.org/media-girl/donut-jihad" target="_blank">read more</a></p>http://mediagirl.org/media-girl/donut-jihad#commentsconservatismconservativespoliticsreligionRepublicansCDATAClothingCultureDoughnutDunkin' DonutsFolk artFood and drinkHeadgearKeffiyehMichelle MalkinPalestinian clothingPalestinian nationalismPerson CareerWed, 28 May 2008 03:34:24 +0000media girl1602 at http://mediagirl.orgPJ O'Rourke gets surreal (or was he ever real?)http://mediagirl.org/media-girl/pj-orourke-gets-surreal-or-was-he-ever-real
<p>Apparently being poor in America means going out to eat, living a comfortable life, but perhaps having to cope with an "old car" or a "black-and-white television" -- as opposed to back in the '50s, when people had to live "modest lives."</p>
<p>Apparently there's no "net" cost to globalization borne by America. On the whole, it's not like anybody is suffering, right? Right?</p>
<p>Apparently "centralization of power" -- of which O'Rourke claims to be suspicious -- does not include the multinational conglomerates that run our government and have quite a bit of power, thank you very much.</p>
<p>Apparently there is no real poverty in America. Apparently the disappearance of the middle class didn't happen because apparently there never was a middle class -- just people living "modest lives."</p>
<p>Apparently we're supposed to be happy because we're better off than Lebanon and Russia.</p>
<p>Apparently there is no economic basis for requiring trading partners to follow similar rules about the environment or child labor.</p>
<p>This from the white male living in his suburban house in the suburbs, enjoying what -- six-figure income? Seven? What does P.J. O'Rourke know about poverty in America?</p>
<p>Obviously not much.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rss/redir/http://www-tc.pbs.org/newshour/rss/media/2007/02/21/20070221_global28.mp3" rel="nofollow">mp3</a></p>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/media-girl/pj-orourke-gets-surreal-or-was-he-ever-real#commentsnewsclasseconomynational debtpoliticspollutionpovertytradeAmericaCDATACultureGlobalizationHistoriographyLaborLaborO'RourkeP. J. O'RourkePolitics of the United StatesPovertySocial IssuesSocial IssuesThu, 22 Feb 2007 02:42:42 +0000media girl1450 at http://mediagirl.orgOn Jon Stewart, democracy and where the cynicism really lieshttp://mediagirl.org/media-girl/jon-stewart-democracy-and-where-cynicism-really-lies
<p><a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/06/22/AR2006062201474.html" rel="nofollow">Washington Post pontificator Richard Morin offers what I think is one of the most absurd theories</a> I've seen yet coming from the mainstream media mind:</p>
<p>Two political scientists found that young people who watch Stewart's faux news program, "The Daily Show," develop cynical views about politics and politicians that could lead them to just say no to voting.</p>
<p>That's particularly dismaying news because the show is hugely popular among college students, many of whom already don't bother to cast ballots.</p>
<p>Jody Baumgartner and Jonathan S. Morris of East Carolina University said previous research found that nearly half -- 48 percent -- of this age group watched "The Daily Show" and only 23 percent of show viewers followed "hard news" programs closely.<br />
Assumption #1: "hard news" programs actually contain "hard news" -- which is questionable for anyone who is willing to actually question whether the mainstream media emperor has any clothes.</p>
<p>Stewart has made his name poking fun of mainstream media, including the so-called "hard news" shows, and <a href="http://mediagirltunesin.blogspot.com/2004/10/regular-hourly-politics-and-news.html" rel="nofollow">gained a big boost in 2004 when he said</a>, literally, "I won't be your monkey!" to the CNN Crossfire twits.</p>
<p>But get a load of this logic that Morin seems to buy:</p>
<p>"Ultimately, negative perceptions of candidates could have participation implications by keeping more youth from the polls," they wrote.<br />
This is Bush-league logic, right along with notions that the real problem with Iraq is that the reporting is negative, not that the bad news is in fact really happening. Now that is what I would call cynicism!</p>
<p>I don't think I'm being cynical when I say that, just because many of our politicians are revealed to be, well, lunatics doesn't mean that hiding the fact will somehow improve democracy.</p>
<p>Besides, maybe cynicism isn't so bad. Ask <a href="http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/c.html" rel="nofollow">Ambrose Bierce, who defines "cynic" as</a>:</p>
<p>A blackguard whose faulty vision sees things as they are, not as they ought to be. Hence the custom among the Scythians of plucking out a cynic's eyes to improve his vision.*dons shatter-proof goggles*</p>
<p>Morin does report, however, a study that cuts right to the unacknowledged racism that exists in the so-called progressive population:</p>
<p>Democrats and independents were far more generous; on average, they gave Katrina victims on average more than $1,500 a month, compared with $1,200 for Republicans, and for 13 months instead of nine.</p>
<p>But for Democrats, race mattered -- and in a disturbing way. Overall, Democrats were willing to give whites about $1,500 more than they chose to give to a black or other minority. (Even with this race penalty, Democrats still were willing to give more to blacks than those principled Republicans.) "Republicans are likely to be more stringent, both in terms of money and time, Iyengar said. "However, their position is 'principled' in the sense that it stems from a strong belief in individualism (as opposed to handouts). Thus their responses to the assistance questions are relatively invariant across the different media conditions. Independents and Democrats, on the other hand, are more likely to be affected by racial cues."<br />
One can rest assured that the "hard news" programs are not going to report on this. However, I could very easily see Jon Stewart poking some fun at this.</p>
<p>Bad for democracy? I suppose it depends upon your perspective.</p>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/media-girl/jon-stewart-democracy-and-where-cynicism-really-lies#commentsnewsCongressDemocratsmediapoliticsprogressive valuesRepublicansWhite HouseCDATAComedyCultureCynicDemocratic PartyFox News Channel controversiesJon StewartJon StewartParodiesPerson CareerQuotationRichard MorinSatireSocial IssuesSocial IssuesTechnologyTechnologyThe Colbert ReportThe Daily ShowFri, 23 Jun 2006 18:28:36 +0000media girl1285 at http://mediagirl.orgLet Bush summon you to the sacrificehttp://mediagirl.org/media-girl/let-bush-summon-you-sacrifice
<p><a href="http://www.alcyone.com/max/lit/devils/t.html" rel="nofollow">Ambrose Bierce defined "telephone" as</a>:</p>
<p>An invention of the devil which abrogates some of the advantages of making a disagreeable person keep his distance.He defined "telescope" as:</p>
<p>A device having a relation to the eye similar to that of the telephone to the ear, enabling distant objects to plague us with a multitude of needless details. Luckily it is unprovided with a bell summoning us to the sacrifice.<br />
These <a href="http://decider.mstore.xingtone.com/" rel="nofollow">"Decider Ringtones"</a> are a funny way to be summoned. </p>
<p><em>[Disclosure: I have no financial interest in this site or its promotion whatsoever.]</em></p>
<p>Relevant <em>Devil's Dictionary</em> entries:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>finance</strong> - The art or science of managing revenues and resources for the best advantage of the manager. The pronunciation of this word with the i long and the accent on the first syllable is one of America's most precious discoveries and possessions.</li>
<li><strong>president</strong> - The leading figure in a small group of men of whom -- and of whom only -- it is positively known that immense numbers of their countrymen did not want any of them for President.</li>
<li><strong>decide</strong> - To succumb to the preponderance of one set of influences over another set.</li>
</ul>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/media-girl/let-bush-summon-you-sacrifice#commentsbusinesspoliticswhimsyWhite HouseAmbrose BierceAmbrose BierceCDATAConjurationCultureHuman behaviorLiteratureSacrificeThe Devil's DictionaryXMLTue, 23 May 2006 02:13:45 +0000media girl1267 at http://mediagirl.orgThe nation's business can wait while Republicans strike nativist poseshttp://mediagirl.org/media-girl/nations-business-can-wait-while-republicans-strike-nativist-poses
<p>The Republicans have done it again. While they spend the nation into bankruptcy while neglecting the critical challenges that we face -- porous national security, politicizing intelligence, declining education, a broken healthcare system -- they rush into this election year whipping up fear over trivialities and appealing to depraved and reactionary emotionalism.</p>
<p>We're talking <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nativism" rel="nofollow">nativism</a>.</p>
<p>Since they seem to have gotten away with treating the Mexican border as a crisis while ignoring the Canadian border -- which, by the way, we know terrorists have crossed -- they're pushing even further in their anti-Hispanic efforts by <a href="http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060519/ap_on_go_co/immigration;_ylt=A9FJqZo63W1EuVABIAes0NUE;_ylu=X3oDMTA2Z2szazkxBHNlYwN0bQ--" rel="nofollow">voting not once, but twice, to establish English as the national language</a>.</p>
<p>As if that were going to achieve any meaningful improvement.</p>
<p>"We are trying to make an assimilation statement," said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., one of two dozen senators who voted Thursday for both English proposals.Given his past, Mr. Graham seem to intend for everyone to submit to his arch-conservative views.</p>
<p>"What the president has said all along is that he wants to make sure that people who become American citizens have a command of the English language," Snow said. "It's as simple as that."Of course, the president demonstrates poor "command of the English language" himself. But we have to remember, he's above the law. He says so over and over again.</p>
<p>Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Okla., disputed charges that making English the national language was racist or aimed at Spanish speakers.Sure. It's just a coincidence that this measure is taken up at the same time they're working up other nativist laws and policies directed against Hispanics crossing the Mexican border. Mr. Inhofe's <em>real</em> beef is with waiters in Chinese restaurants.</p>
<p>The provision makes exceptions for any language assistance already guaranteed by law, such as bilingual ballots required under the Voting Rights Act or court interpreters. It also requires immigrants seeking citizenship to demonstrate a "sufficient understanding of the English language for usage in every day life."Let's see if we can come up with a list of phrases....</p>
<p>"Where's the bathroom?"</p>
<p>"Glass of water, please."</p>
<p>"I vote for Republicans only."</p>
<p>"When the government spies on me, I feel patriotic."</p>
<p>That oughta do it.</p>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/media-girl/nations-business-can-wait-while-republicans-strike-nativist-poses#commentsnewscultureelectionimmigrationpoliticsraceRepublicansSenateWhite HouseCDATACultureEnvironmental skepticismHealthHealthJim InhofeLaborLaborNational languageNativismOklahomaPoliticsQuotationSocial IssuesSocial IssuesFri, 19 May 2006 15:24:55 +0000media girl1265 at http://mediagirl.orgAy Chihuahua!http://mediagirl.org/blog/marisacat/2005/12/ay-chihuahua
<p>Well, they do say we are liberal out here in the 9 Bay Area Counties.... Anyone can be anything and we all exist inside our own drag show. In our vaunted liberality, we extend that license to the canines.</p>
<blockquote><div>FREMONT Officer on duty is bitten by Chihuahuas<br />
- Suzanne Herel<br />
Saturday, December 31, 2005
<p>A police officer escorting a teenager home from a traffic stop Thursday morning was attacked by Chihuahuas at the boy's home. </p>
<p>The officer was treated for bite wounds to his ankles and returned to work within two hours, police Detective Bill Veteran said. </p>
<p>The attack occurred at 3 a.m. as the officer and his partner returned a 17-year-old boy ... after detaining him at Butano Park and Tenor Court for driving without a license, Veteran said. </p></div>
</blockquote>
<p>I say the <a href="http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2005/12/31/BABADIGEST2.DTL&amp;type=printable">attack pack</a> went for what they could reach. A stealth flanking move, one suspects they came outta nowhere...</p>
<p>Disclaimer: the chihuahua with a star motif should remind you of no one. Further I am a great fan of the toy and teacup divisions - in dogs.</p>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/blog/marisacat/2005/12/ay-chihuahua#commentsmiscnewsbloggingpoliticswhimsyCDATAChihuahuaCulturePerson CareerToy dogsSun, 01 Jan 2006 01:50:37 +0000Marisacat1007 at http://mediagirl.orgBeware the macho liberal "feminist"http://mediagirl.org/blog/media-girl/2005/12/beware-macho-liberal-feminist
<p>For <a href="http://nitpicker.blogspot.com/2005/12/grow-fuck-up.html" rel="nofollow">he doth not tip-toe</a>:</p>
<p>[Ann Coulter] is a bitch. Period. I don't give a damn whether you like the word or not, but I'm a fan of the old school (non-racial, non-genitalia-based) classics.Except if you call a man a bitch, you're disparaging his masculinity. Why? Because bitch is a gender-based epithet.</p>
<p>It pisses me off that liberals are supposed to tiptoe around all the time. Tiptoeing around is exactly what has been wrong with lefties for too damn long. I'm not saying that saying everyone has to go around saying <em>bitch bitch bitch</em>, but you can't just let these people keep throwing shit at you and think they'll go away.So the answer is to resort to misogynistic verbal assault. After all, how else is a liberal man to assert is macho pride but by denigrating women for being women?</p>
<p>I've gotten several e-mails saying that I shouldn't give her the satisfaction. <em>The satisfaction!</em> That's what the geeky guy in the high school movie says when he gets his underwear pulled halfway up his back! "I won't give you the satisfaction of a comment, sir." Whether he's right or not, he comes off as (here comes another one) a pussy. That's the last thing we need, people.Because being a hothead, like our fearless leader in the Oval Office, is how to be a man and not a "pussy." (Yeah, real men have dicks.)</p>
<p>Look, I'm probably one of a small number of Kansas boys from the middle of the state to have called himself a <a href="http://www.kstatecollegian.com/issues/+v102/fa/n063/opinion/opn-welch.html" rel="nofollow">feminist</a> in print and just maybe I've hung out in a different crowd, but the men and women I hang out with don't really think twice about "bitch." Yeah, we're prone to rude jokes and the suggestion that whomever we're talking to is gay, but that guy's likely to play it off. Are we anti-gay? You may want to claim so, but dammit all to hell if I haven't donated my time to Topeka's Equal Justice Coalition.Translation: "Don't expect civilized behavior from me, I gave at the office."</p>
<p>You know, when I hear people conversationally say "bitch," I don't like it, unless it's with the ironic pronunciation: bee-atch! And calling things "gay"? I suppose that if homophobic attitudes are unexamined, then everyone gets a pass, right?</p>
<p>And he's a "feminist," right? Oh yeah. And some of his best friends are gay, too, I bet.</p>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/blog/media-girl/2005/12/beware-macho-liberal-feminist#commentsbloggingculturefeminismpoliticsprogressive valuesBitchCultureProfanitySinglesThird-wave feminismWed, 07 Dec 2005 15:43:25 +0000media girl939 at http://mediagirl.orgHillary wraps herself in the flaghttp://mediagirl.org/blog/media-girl/2005/12/hillary-wraps-herself-flag
<p>No, she hasn't gone and backed the Flag Desecration Amendment. No, Hillary Clinton wants to have her cake and eat it, too, so she's <a href="http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny-brf--clinton-flag-1205dec05,0,7179096.story?coll=ny-region-apnewyork" rel="nofollow">backing a federal law</a> to ban flag desecration. </p>
<p>Because, you know, there's like a huge rash of flag burning happening in America, right? You see it every day, don't you? Your neighbor does it! Your school teacher does it! The fireman down the block does it! Kids studying French in middle school do it! John Kerry does it every day over his morning coffee before going to the office!</p>
<p>Her support of [Utah Senator Bob] Bennett's bill follows her position in Congress last summer, when a constitutional ban on flag-burning was debated. Clinton said then she didn't support a constitutional ban, but did support federal legislation making it a crime to desecrate the flag.</p>
<p>In her public statements, she has compared the act of flag-burning to burning a cross, which can be considered a violation of federal civil rights law.Oh -- but not a <em>constitutional</em> ban! I guess that's supposed to appease freedom-lovers. I can hear it now: "I voted for the flag desecration law before I voted against the amendment." You laugh. But I predict you'll see something like that when she runs for president.</p>
<p>The Bennett-sponsored measure outlaws a protester intimidating any person by burning the flag, lighting someone else's flag, or desecrating the flag on federal property.I suspect this law could backfire on the wingnuts. After all, what's more desecrating than:</p>
<ul>
<li>Putting a flag sticker on your car bumper. (Tailpipe exhaust and road grime are not sacred.)</li>
<li>Flying a flag in the rain or snow. (That's against the rules.)</li>
<li>Flying the flag at night in the dark. (Also against the rules. Come on, jerky boys! Don't you remember what you learned in scouting?)</li>
<li>Sweating in an American flag t-shirt. (Pit stains could count as desecration, I think.)</li>
<li>Wearing a flag on your underwear. (Skid marks are definitely desecration in my book.)</li>
</ul>
<p>Oh, and you bikers? Better remove that flag from your jackets or The Man is gonna getcha! Football teams? Don't play any games on Federal property. Grass stains don't go with red, white and blue.</p>
<p>Also facing charges would be our armed forces, who properly dispose of a worn flag by burning it.</p>
<p>Then of course there's the United States Constitution, which will be cut at its most fundamental self-evident right -- freedom of speech -- in order to provide cheap pseudo-patriotic photo-ops for "public servants."</p>
<p>But political opportunists won't let practicalities or principles get in the way of a good pose and cheap rhetoric.</p>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/blog/media-girl/2005/12/hillary-wraps-herself-flag#commentsnewscivil rightsFlag Burning AmendmentpoliticsCultureFlag desecrationFlag Desecration AmendmentFlag Protection ActFlags of the United StatesHillary ClintonQuotationSymbolismTexas v. JohnsonUnited StatesTue, 06 Dec 2005 02:06:39 +0000media girl933 at http://mediagirl.orgThe Evolution and Legal Woes of the Guerrilla Girlshttp://mediagirl.org/blog/rottenberry/2005/11/evolution-and-legal-woes-guerrilla-girls
<p><a href="http://www.newyorker.com/talk/content/articles/050530ta_talk_toobin">The Guerrilla Girls appeared to be having legal troubles in early 2005</a></p>
<p>In all honesty, I hadn't read anything about the <a href="http://www.guerrillagirls.com">Guerrilla Girls</a> in ages. They were one of those groups that always brought interesting discussion to the table and although I had assumed they were still active, I never saw advertisements of any sort for Guerrilla Girls appearances, etc.</p>
<p>I stumbled across the previously linked New Yorker article while researching for a history presentation. I was a little shocked to see that the Guerrilla Girls are actually involved in such a legal battle...especially since it appears they are involved in a legal battle with each other.</p>
<p>Then my professor, Judith Roy, mentioned something that I had not even contemplated previously. The two members that are actually suing were members of the Guerrilla Girls from the inception of the group. These are women who wanted to focus on issues of sexism and racism in the art world. These are women who wanted to topple the 'isms' for the benefit of not only themselves but also for the benefit of future artists.</p>
<p>It's not as though the Guerrilla Girls had no impact. They certainly did have an impact, however, racism and sexim still pervade the art world. The Guerrilla Girls even discussed this fact themselves in their book, The Guerrilla Girls' Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art. This isn't for lack of trying on the behalf of groups such as the Guerrilla Girls--it's because sexism and racism are mindsets that have proven to be difficult, sometimes seemingly impossible, to erase.</p>
<p>The Guerrilla Girls did a lot to combat racism and sexism in the art world. Just exposing the issue is doing more than nothing--and the Guerrilla Girls took it a step further by calling out galleries, auction houses, art critics, and art collectors alike for their discriminatory policies.</p>
<p>It seems that as time has moved on, the art world has stopped evaluating racism and sexism within itself--and the focus of the Guerrilla Girls has changed as well. Their last book, Bitches, Bimbos, and Ballbreakers: The Guerrilla Girls' Illustrated Guide to Female Stereotypes, is just one example of their departure from their original goal. Their website also has a parody of the color-coded terror alert released by the Bush administration that is visible <a href="http://www.guerillagirls.com/posters/womensterroralert.shtml">here</a>.</p>
<p>It's not that I think that such change is a bad thing. First of all, sexism and racism in all areas of life form a connected force that is harmful to everyone. Second, I love what the Guerrilla Girls bring to the table. They make feminism fun. They prove that feminists actually do have a sense of humor and that humor can be infused into all areas of life--even areas that are very serious. It just seems that this could be something that would be upsetting to original members of the Guerrilla Girls, especially since sexism and racism are still pervasive forces in the art industry.</p>
<p>Hopefully, the Guerrilla Girls will get all of their internal conflicts resolved. Lordisa knows they are still needed--both in and out of the art world.</p>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/blog/rottenberry/2005/11/evolution-and-legal-woes-guerrilla-girls#commentsfeminismAdvertisingCDATAChe GuevaraCultureCulture jammingCulture of New York CityEthicsGuerrilla GirlsGuerrilla warfareJudith RoyPerson CareerRacismSociologyTechnologyTechnologySat, 12 Nov 2005 22:33:24 +0000RottenBerry889 at http://mediagirl.orgTexas passes anti-gay measurehttp://mediagirl.org/blog/media-girl/2005/11/texas-passes-anti-gay-measure
<p>Not trusting their own predilections, apparently, <a href="http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/11/08/AR2005110800859.html" rel="nofollow">Texans voted in overwhelming numbers</a> to prevent themselves from entering into gay marriages.</p>
<p>The contest in Texas was lopsided _ the ban was receiving support from about 76 percent of voters with nearly two-thirds of precincts reporting. Like every other state except Massachusetts, Texas didn't permit same-sex marriages previously, but the constitutional amendment was touted as an extra guard against future court rulings.</p>
<p>This result provides much assurance to men especially, who now have the law behind them when they make their choice to be heterosexual.</p>
<p>There was much relief expressed as marriages across the state were saved from divorce for the purpose of making a homosexual marriage commitment. The constitutional amendment, however, is mute about whether married individuals can legally have homosexual affairs.</p>
<!-- google_ad_section_start --><!-- google_ad_section_end -->http://mediagirl.org/blog/media-girl/2005/11/texas-passes-anti-gay-measure#commentscivil rightscultureelectionpoliticsCDATACultureMarriageSame-sex marriageSociologyTexasUnited States ConstitutionXMLWed, 09 Nov 2005 04:30:52 +0000media girl869 at http://mediagirl.org